# Cardio Tracking Rings Oura Adds Cardio Effort and VO2 Max to Its Ring Workout Tracking By Adam Harrie | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-10-22 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardio-tracking-rings References: [techcrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/oura-is-launching-two-new-ways-to-track-and-understand-activity)  Oura is adding 'Cardio Effort' and VO2 max to its ring workout tracking, giving members a clearer read on workout strain and long-term fitness. The pair moves tracking beyond exercise minutes and heart-rate zones by scoring cardiovascular load and estimating aerobic capacity, or how well the body uses oxygen during exercise. Cardio Effort weights intensity alongside duration, so a short, hard session can match a longer, easier one. The score rolls into a weekly total built around each member's baseline. It is rolling out on '[Oura Ring Gen3](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oura-ring-4-ceramic)' and later models. VO2 max enters 'Oura Labs' for members with Gen3 and newer rings. After five qualifying GPS-based activities, it produces an initial estimate. Passive VO2 max estimates turn a lab-linked fitness marker into everyday ring data. Cardio Effort on Gen3 hardware also makes workout review more comparative, which sharpens Oura's case as [smart-ring competition](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-ringconn-gen-3) rises. Image Credit: Oura ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 8.4/10 - Popularity: 72% | Activity: 82% | Freshness: 99% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Passive Fitness Biomarkers:** Wearable devices are translating clinical metrics like VO2 max into continuous consumer data, creating openings for health platforms that blend everyday tracking with preventative wellness insights. - **Cardio Load Scoring:** Personalized workout strain scores are making exercise measurement more comparative and context-aware, revealing potential for coaching tools that adapt to individual baselines instead of generic activity targets. - **Smart Ring Competition:** Compact wearables are expanding beyond sleep and recovery into advanced fitness analytics, intensifying demand for differentiated sensors, algorithms, and subscription-based health features. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Wearable Technology:** The category is shifting toward discreet, always-on devices that deliver deeper physiological intelligence, supporting new product ecosystems around rings, patches, and sensor-enabled accessories. - **Digital Health:** Consumer access to fitness and cardiovascular indicators is blurring the line between wellness tracking and preventive care, opening space for platforms that connect self-monitoring with professional health guidance. - **Fitness Technology:** Exercise platforms are evolving from counting workouts to interpreting intensity, recovery, and aerobic capacity, creating opportunities for more personalized training feedback across apps and connected devices. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Blood Pressure-Tracking Rings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ringconn-gen-3.md) - [Smartwatch-Like Smart Rings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valour-ring-1.md) - [Fitness Motivation Technology Ecosystems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/motivation-technology.md) - [Personal Wellness Smart Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nova-smart-ring.md) - [Intuitive Health-Tracking Rings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reebok-smart-ring.md) - [Wearable Metabolic Testing Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metabolic-testing-device.md) - [Scandinavian-Inspired Cardio Classes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardio-class.md) - [Endurance Athlete Longevity Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/endurance-athlete.md) - [Modern Workplace Wellness Integration](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oura-ring.md)